Automobile body construction



,Qlune 17 1924.

- 1,498,234 K, L. CHILDS AUTOMOBILE L BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed No). 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I mleniod' lrmfli zzz Z. mzzzs f L. CHILDS A UTOMO B ILE BODY CONSTRUCTION Jurie 17 1924,

Filed Nov. 17, 1922 2 sneeis-sneez 3 gnxleniam $265k kids Patented in... 1924'. l

UNITED gs r;Ares

KENNETH 'n "cnILns, or nn'raorr, MICHIGA AUTOMOBILE BODY CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed November 17, 1'922. serial no. 601,486.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, KENNETH L. Crmms, a citizen of the UnitedxStates, residing at Hotel Stevenson, 46 Davenport, Detroit, in

the county. of Wayneand State of Michigan, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automobile Body Con-- struction of which the following is a specification. g g I This invention relates to automobile or carriageconstruction and has for its object an improvedbody materialfor this purpose. I

- Heretofore it. hasbeen customary to construct the body of automobiles .from alum'1- mum and sheet steel. The aluminum is r elatively expensive and easily bent and marred after painting. Sheet steel bodies are open to numerous objections such .as l-relatively heaviness andliability .to bend andmart;

Istru'ction, although it is possible of course to use'ametal frame. Tothe wooden frameis I secured, by fstaples or otherwise, a heavy wire mesh alwhich in a large measure takes when painted. Furthermore, the sheet bodies easily rust under the paintjandeause a great dealof trouble inpreserving the finish I The invention relates more particailarlya body-construction includinga. skeleton frame and an exteriorwall secured: thereto. 7 According to. a feature of the invention,

the exterior wall, which j is" secured to the.

skeleton frame, comprises a slightl flexible and yieldable foundation with a ayer of flexible finishing fabric over the foundation,

with an exterior finishing surface.

the term finishing fabric? bein herein used as defining any yieldable plia le material such as cloth or leather capable of bein' stretched over the foundation and provide A further feature of the inventlon includes the use of a non-rigid or pliable ma terial-to afford a smooth support'forlthe flexible finishing fabric. y The use of a skeleton frame witha slight- 1y flexible and yieldable foundation such for instance as a strong wire mesh. produces a body without the objectionable rigidprior constructions, the body being more elastic. and flexible than an all'meta l body and yet having sufiicien't rigidity to stron tortion or buckling. Also the wall of ,a

body constructed this manner is sound, deadening and heat insulating and them-- tire body is practically noiseless being substantially free from rumble, vibration, or rattle.

.yieldahl'e, flexible and. which The non-rigid or pliable material not-only alfordsasmoothl support for the flexible Fig. 2 is a section "taken througha portion of the back of the body.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the body material.

I The present invention permits the construction of the body below the belt moulding as well as above, of a material which is durability'offinish. I,

I employ preferably a wooden frame com (the 'placeyof the metal panels used in the has a great preferably two to the square inch. Metal panelsinot only provide a cover and finish but also brace the frame construction and "bear part of the strain. -Hence-this foundation wire 'forms a fair, and a lighter equivalent, of metal in connecting together the frame members and giving the whole a rigid construction. Furthermore, the foundation wire serves as arelatively strong yet slightly flexibleand yieldable support for the layers of material laid thereover. I

' The first layer of material superimposed on the wire mesh foundation is a layerof cottonwa.dding b;,over this is laid' a hard andstrong fabric material, such as buckram.

Three layers ofbuckram are, preferably, laid over the wadding. These are .designated 0 in the drawings; over the buckram is laid-'a' high grade finishing'cloth designated eiiI find the most suitable material a for, this pur o'se is a material known on the market as'll eritas leather cloth. Thi is unusually Well adapted for the.- urpose ,Ihave in view. In a general: wayjii' will}; describe theldesirable characteristicjs zqf the finishing fabric. It should be a-lr'i'gh grade fabric'impregnated withia material such as varnish, or some of the y'ro'xylin compound. 'Meritas leather clo 1 is preferable to cloth impregnated with pyroxylin compounds as this ,takes varnish to much better advantage.

evident that the body material above explained has many characteristics .sup

.prevent the blow- 2o vring, scratching or injuring the body.

rior-to the ordinary .metal body panel. In the firstplace it does-not mar nor dent under the ordinary stresses but both the superimposed layers and the foundation material have a capacity for flexing and distorting. within j ap ropriate limits which om permanently m Iahn' fir'rishmay be easily renewed and inexpensively,; by varnishing at long periods. In case the finish is injured it may be readily removedaby simply taking out assectionof the layers or acomplete secsupjerimpo'sed tion 0 .the com site'material. All: that 1s necessary to e ect this, is to take ofl' the moulding and disengage the material from its fastenin 'W anamsa 1r 1. In" an automobilebody 011Sl'J'lZltiZlOI1 the combination Iof a frame forming the skeleton of the bod 'andan exterior wall construclion comprising a slightlyflexible and yieldstruction and a. finishing able foundation material'gf'connecting the skeleton framejmeinbers the same and give shape to the exterior wall'confabric supported over the'foundation material.

2. In an automobile, construction the combinati'onpf a frame formingthe skeletonof the body and an exterior wall. construction comprising wire mesh foundation, connecting the skeleton framemembers to brace the same and give shape to the exterior wall construction and ad-finishing fabric supported over'the foundation material. 7

3."In an automobile body construction the combination of a frame forming the skeleton of the body and'anexter'ior'wall construction comprising a slightl flexible and yielda'blefoundationmateria connectton of the -body,: and an exterior'wallconstruction comprising, a relatively strong foundation material,'. a. yielding m'ateria ing the skeleton frame membersto brace the same-{and give shape to the exterior wall construction a finishing fabric sup ported fover the foundation material and f :yildable material between the 'alj and the In anautomobile' bod construction, the combination .of a: flame" orming theskele- -or packing material a slightly flexible and yieldablelaid over the-foundation material, and a fabric finishing material yielding material.

5. In an automobile bod construction, the

combination Ofqfi. frame orming the skeleton of the body, and an exterior wall construction comprising a relatively strong foundation material, a soft and yieldable wadding overlying-the foundation material a strong fabric overlying the wadding, an

afinishing material be'aring'ahighly polished water-proofexterior surface.

overlaying the 6. In an automobile body construction, s

the combination of a frame forming the skeleton of the body,'and' an exterior wall construction. made up of a compositematerial including. a foundation material of a; v

relatively strong and heavy reinforcing stance, a waddmg-of softmaterial lai over such foundatiom-a strong fabric, such as buckram laid over the wedding, and a finishing fabric com rising a material having a relatively ihighl? terior surface. I 7. In an automobile bodyeonstruction, the combination 'of a frame-forming the polished water-proof e'xl-- skeleton 9f the body, and an exterior wall COIIStI'UClZlOH-COIDPIiSiDg a strong wire mesh foundation, a wedding laidover the mesh, buckram laid overthe waddin' and a finish-' in-g material having, a water-proof exterior surface.

' .In'anautomobile'ibod construction,-the

combination of a"frame orming' the skeleton of the bod and an exterior .wall'conmembers tobrace the same'and"'give shape to the exterior wall-construction, a wedding supported over the wiremesh and a finishing a the wadding. t.

combination of a frame ormin'g the skeleton of the body and an exterior wall construction including a foundation of relativelyhea wire small mesh connecting the frame mem ers and bracing the same and serving packing-or wedding material laid over the ric supported over.

9. In an automobile bod construction, the I to shape the exterior wall'construction, a j 3 foundation material and a finishing material laid over the wadding and having a waterproof exterior finish.

10. In an automobile body, the combina i. I

tion'of a skeleton frame, and a wall construction below-thebeltlin'e comprising aslighting flexible and yieldable 'foundatlon', of foraminous material applied to the skele ton frameand capable o bracing 'and' con-v .necting 'the'mem'bers of the skeleton frame and giving contour to the body, and a fabric provlded with a finished exterior "surface material. 11; In an automobile body, the com andsuitably supported over-th'e foundation 100' struction inclu mga-relatively; heavy w re J small mesh connecting'thezskeletonframe 1 1,4ee,ase

tion of a skeleton frame and a wall construction below the belt line comprising a relatively light but stifi' foundation material appblied to the skeleton frame and capable racing. and connecting the members of the skeleton frame-and giving contour 'to the body, a s0ft,'yieldable packing material a laid over the foundation material, and a fabric provided with an exterior finishing surface, supported over the packing material. K Y I 12. In an automobile body, the combination of a skeletonframe and a. wall construction below the belt line, comprising a relatively light but stifi foundation'material applied to the skeleton frame and capable o bracing and connecting the members of the skeleton frame and giving contour to the body, a soft yieldable packing material spread over the foundation material, astrong textile material stretched overfthe packing. and

textile materia 13. In an automobile body, the combine I a fabric provided with an ex- 'terior finishing surface stretched over the tion of a skeleton frame and an exterior wall construction located below the belt line,

comprising a relatively strong wire mesh connecting the members 'of the skeleton frame and bracing the same and giving contour to the body, a packing material s read over the wire mesh, and a yieldable, p iable material spread over the packin-g'material jznd provided with an exteriorfinis'hing. surace. e a

14. In an automobile body, the combination of a skeleton frame and an exterior wall construction located below the belt line,

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

KENNETH L. minus; 

